Tag tying and bunching machine



(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet; 1.

J. P. SWIFT. TAG TYING AND BUNGHING MACHINE.

No. 666,353. 6| Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

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TAG TYING AND BUNGHING MAGHINE. No. 566,353. Patented Aug. 2.5, 1896.

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(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. P. SWIFT.

TAG TXING AND BUNGHING MACHINE. No. 566,353. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

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(No Model.)

J. P'. SWIFT. TAG TYING AND BUNGHING MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 25,

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 5. J. P. SWIFT.

-TAG TYING AND BUNGHING MACHINE. No. 566,353. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

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9 Sheets-SheetJ 5.

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J. P. SWIFT. TAG TYING AND BUNGHING MACHINE.

No. 566,353. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

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TAG TYING AND BUN'GHING MACHINE.

No. 566,353. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

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(No Model.) 9 'Sheets-Sheet 8. J. P. SWIFT. TAG TYING AND BUNGHING MACHINE,

No. 566,353. Patentsd Aug. 25, 1896.

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mz Nonms PETERS co, vnofouwn (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet ,'91

J. 1P. SWIFT. TAG TYING AND BUNGHING MACHINE.

No. 555,353. 1955511555 Aug. 25, 1895.

llnrrnn STATES" PATENT Ormes.

JOHN P. SVIFT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TAG TYING AND B UNCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,353, dated August 25, 1896.

Application filed November 2, 1898. Serial No. 489,812. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN P. SWIFT, residing in Boston, in the county. of Suffolk and' State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Tag Tying and Bunching Machines, o f which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for producing from a continuous string or cord knotted or tied loops, more particularly knotted or tied loops having tags or like blanks suspended thereon, and for the assembling or grouping the said knotted loops into predetermined numbers or bunches.

In accordance with this invention the tags are placed in or on a suitable holder, such, for instance, as a chute or receptacle, with their holes or eyelets registering with one another, and one end of the continuous twine, cord, or

string is passed through the said eyelets and preferably placed in position to be engaged by a feeder, which carries the string into posit-ion to be engaged by grippers or holdingjaws, by which that portion of the string to be formed into a loop and upon which a tag is to be placed is rendered substantially taut, or, if desired, the end of the string may be placed by hand in the grippers. A tag is then withdrawn from its chute or receptacle and carried on the substantially taut string toward the grippers, after which the said string is carried downward to form one half or member of the loop, the other half ormember of the loop being then formed by the feeder, which carries the string forward and into the open jaws of the grippers, as will be hereinafter described. The upper ends of the loop, which correspond to the'loose ends of the hand-made loop, are then preferably severed from the string and mechanically tied into a knot, as will be described, and the tied or knotted loop is preferably conveyed to the assembling or what I prefer to designate as the bunching apparatus,wherein the tied tags are suspended and assembled or grouped in predetermined numbers to form what maybe called a bunch, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The apparatus by which the loops are formed and tied with the tags thereon and assembled is preferably made as will be described, and

embraces novel combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter specified.

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of atag for1ning and bunching apparatus embodying this invention,with parts of the apparatus omitted to enable the remaining parts to be more clearly shown; Figs. 2 and 3, details, on an en larged scale, of mechanism forintermittently operating the locper, to be referred to; Fig. 4, a partial section and side elevation of the complete apparatus, the section being taken on the line et 4, Fig. 1, and looking toward the left; Fig. 5, a detail in perspective to be referred to; Fig. 6, a vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the irregular line 6 G and the bunchers7 being shown in elevation; Fig. 7, details in perspective to be referred to; Fig. 8, a detail, on an enlarged scale, of the knot-forming and loop-severing device preferred by me, together with the `cam for operating the same; Fig. 9, a sectional detail, to be referred to, on the irregular line 9' 9, Fig. 8 Fig. 10, adetail, on an enlarged scale, showing the knetter and loop-severing device in their closed position; Fig. 11, a detail in side elevation and on an enlarged scale of the form of loop-forming device preferred by me,sh0w ing one of the loopers engaged with the loop of atied tag; Fig. 12, a sectional det-ail, on the line 12 12, Fig. 11, looking toward the right, to more clearly show the construction of the looper preferred by me; Fig. 13, a sectional detail, on the line 13 13, Fig. 11, to show a construction by which the length of the loop may be adjusted or regulated, as will be described; Figs. 11i, 12, and 13a, similar views of a modified form of loop-f0rining mechanism; Fig. 141-, a sectional detail, on an enlarged scale, to be referred to, to show the mechanism by which the buncher-supporting frame is int-ermittently moved, the section being taken on the line 14 14, Fig. 4L; Fig. 15, a detail to be referred to; Fig. 16, a det-ail, on an enlarged scale, of the cam for operating the tag-delivering device, to be referred to; Fig. 17, a detail in perspective and on an enlarged scale of the loop-holding device and its operating mechanism; Fig. 18, a detail in plan view `showing the holder in its operative position;

Fig. 19, a detail in perspective and on an enlarged scale showing the tag-delivering de- TOO vice in the position it would occupy when about to deliver its tag to the buncher; Fig. 20, a detail showing the gripping-jaws, the string, the string-carrier, and the looper in position .they occupy when a loop is about to be formed; Fig. 21, a detail in perspective illustrating the parts shown in Fig. 2O in the position they occupy when the knot is about to be tied, and also showing the loop-holding device and the knotter shown in Fig. 10 in the position the latter occupies when about to form the knot; Fig. 22, a detail in perspective representing the knotter shown in Figs. 10 and 21 as turned through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees and into the position shown in Fig. 8, the said ligure also showing the two members or parts of the loop wound about the beak of the knotter; Fig. 23, a detail in perspective representing the knetter turned through an angle of forty-live degrees from the position shown in Fig. 22; Fig. 24, a detail in perspective showing the knotter in its closed position just preparatory to slipping the noose of the loop off from the knotter to form a knot in the loop; Fig. 25, a detail in perspective of the knetter, showing the noose of the loop as slipped off from its beak and formed into a knot, the knotter retaining hold of the free ends of the loop; Fig. 26, a developed view of a switch-cam for operating the intermediate jaw of the grippers; Fig. 27, a detail, on an enlarged scale, partly in section, to more clearly show the preferred form of construction of the gripping-jaws; Fig. 28, a detail in plan view of the grippingjaws, with the intermediate jaw omitted; Fig. 29, an end view of the tag-containing chute, to more clearly show the manner of holding the tags within its chute; Fig. 30, an under side view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the bunchers; Fig. 31, a detail, on an enlarged scale, to more clearly show the manner of securing the disk a to its shaft; Fig. 32, a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of the buncher-driving gears; Fig. 33, a sectional detail on the line 33 33, Fig. 32; and Fig. 34 a rear elevation of the gear shown in Fig. 32. The apparatus, as herein shown, comprises a loop-forming and tagtying portion and a tag assembling or bunching portion constructed and arranged to cooperate, but to enable the invention to be more readily understood I prefer to specifically describe each portion separately in the order specified.

` The operating parts of the loop-formin g and tag-tying portion are supported in a suitable framework, which, in the present instance, is shown as a substantially oblong` box or casing A, erected upon a standard or upright A'. (See Figs. e and 6.)

The framework A supports in suitable bearings a shaft e, (see Fig. 1,) which may be driven, as herein shown, from a shaft A2 by suitable mechanism, herein shown as a sprocket-chain a', passed about a sprocketwheel a3 on the shaft a and about a sprocket- Wheel a4 on the shaft A2, the latter shaft being supported in suitable arms A2 A4, ccured to the upright or standard A.

rihe shaft e constitutes the main operatingshaft of the machine, upon which are secured various devices, such as cams and eccentrics, for producing movement of different mechanisms, as will be described.

The parts operated by the cams and eccentrics on the shaft a, as herein shown, and which will be hereinafter specifically described, are as follows: first, grippers or holding-jaws, which operate to hold fast one end of the string, cord, or twine; second, a feeder, which carries the string into the said jaws; third, a tag-carrier or feeder mechanism, which places a tag upon the string; fourth, a looper, which acts on the string held by the jaws and carries the same downward to form one half or member of the loop; fifth, a loop-holding device by which the two halves or members of the loop are held whilea knot is being tied in the said loop; sixth, a knotting device by which the loop is severed from the string and tied, and, seventh, a brush by which the loose ends of the string retained by the grippers are removed from the Ysaid grippers.

The grippers or holding-jaws, which may and preferably will be made as herein shown, consist of two members a4 a5 (see Fig. 28) and an intermediate member al", all pivotally secured together by the screw a7 (see Figs. 1 and 27) and forming a double set of holding-jaws or grippers, the intermediate jaw e6 cooperating with the member or jaw a4 to form one set and with the jaw or member a5 to form the other set. The intermediate jaw a6 is operated to cooperate first with one jaw, as, for instance, the jaw or member a4, and then with the jaw or member a5, as herein shown by a two-path switch-cam a8, (see Figs. 1 and 26,) fast on the shaft a and provided, in the present instance, with four peripheral grooves or channels, (marked 2 3 et 5 in Fig. 26,) the said grooves forming two tracks or paths, which are made to cross and connect with each other by a switch a9, for a purpose as will be described.

The members or jaws a4 a5 have their rear ends 7 S extended to engage a stationary upright or stop d10, which may form part of the framework A, and the said jaws are adapted to be brought into engagement with said stop, as herein shown, by flat springs @L12 als, secured to the said jaws, as best shown in Fig. 2S, for a purpose as will be described.

The intermediate jaw a6 of the grippers carries at its rear end a device for engaging the tracks or ways on the cam as, the said device, in the present instance, being represented in Figs. 21 and 27 as a follower consisting of a top piece 10 and depending side pieces 12, the latter itting into grooves forming the track or way. The top piece 10 of the follower referred to is provided, as shown in Fig. 27, with a stud or upright projection 13, extended up into a tubular upright 14 on the rear end of the jaw a6, the latterbeng brought IOO IIO

into engagement with one jaw, as @4, when the side pieces @13 of the follower are in one track or set of grooves, as 2 3, and into engagement with the other jaw, as @3, when the said side pieces of the follower are in the other track or set of grooves 4 5, for a purpose as will be described.

The grippers have cooperating with them a feeder for the string or twine, preferably made as herein shown, and consisting of an arm or rod @14, provided at its free end with a bent finger @15 (see Figs. 1 and 4) and secured in an upright @16 of a movable frame or bracket, pivoted, as at @17, to a stationary portion or support @13, constituting a guideway for a sliding rod or bar @10, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) operatively connected to the said movable bracket or frame, it being herein shown as provided with a square or other than round upright stud @30, extended between a forked arm @31 of the said movable frame. The sliding rod @10 may be recipro cated, as herein represented, by a cam-disk @33, fast on the shaft@ and havingin one face a cam-groove @33, (see Fig. 4,) into which projects a pin, roller, or stud @34 on the sliding rod @10. The cam-groove @33 is shaped in suitable manner to intermittingly operate the slide-rod @10, and thereby intermittingly oscillate the feeder @14so that after the said feeder has carried the string or cord to the gripping-jaws and has again returned to its normal or starting position (shown in Fig. 1) it will remain stationary whileone half or member of the loop is being formed, after which the said feeder becomes active to again feed the stringto the grippers to form the other half or member of the said loop, as will be hereinafter more fully described. After the string has been carried by the feeder @14 to the gripping-jaws` and has been rmly grasped between the intermediate jaw @G and one of the jaws @4 @5 the said string is acted upon `by a looper, which forms one half or member of the completed loop upon which the tag is strung.

One form of looper by which this result may be accomplished is shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and another form of looper is shown in Figs. 11a and 124 but instead of the particular construction shown I may employ any other suitable construction of device capable of performing the work, but l prefer to employ the form of looper shown in Figs. 1, 11, and 12. As shown in Figs. 1, 1l, and 12, the looper consists of an arm @33, provided with a finger @33, preferably slightly bent, the said arm being secured to or forming part of an elbow-lever @37, loosely mounted on a stud or pivot @33, extended from a lug or ear @33, secured to or forming part of a disk @30, rendered fast on a shaft @31, having bearings in suitable uprights @33 @33, forming part of the framework. The disk @30 may and preferably will be` adj ustably clamped or secured to a disk @300, which is fast on the shaft @31,

the disk @30 being secured to the disk @300, as shown in Fig. 13, by screws or bolts @301, eX- tended through slots @303 in the disk @300.

The elbow-lever @37 may be provided, as herein shown, with a shoe @34, which coperates with a cam @35, loose on the shaft @31, but held stationary by means of a thumb-screw @30, (see Fig. 12,) inserted through the slotted end of an arm or bracket @37, secured to a portion @33 of the framework. The elbow-lever @37 is adapted to be turned on its stud or pivot @33 in one direction by the loop of the string or twine, as willbe described, and is restored to its normal position, as herein shown, by means of a torsional spring @30, encircling the stud or pivot @33 and having one end fastened to the lever @37 and its other end secured to a collar @40, fast on the said stud; In the present instance the looper-carrying disk @30 is shown as provided with four looper-arms, and as herein represented the said disk is provided with four circumferential lugs or projections @41, between which are located the shoes @34 of the different looper-levers @37, each of the said lugs being provided, as shown, with a spring @43, secured to it, as by a screw @43, and which spring acts as a buffer to relieve the force of the blow of the looperdever @37 against the lng @41 when the said looper-lever is restored to its normal position by the spring @30. The looper-carrying shaft @31 is intermittingly turned or rotated, which may and preferably will be accomplished by a mechanism shown separately in Figs. 2 and 3, and consisting of a square or other than round disk or plate @44, fast on the looper-shaft @31, and provided, as herein shown, with studs @43, corresponding in number to the looper-arms carried by the disk @30, which number in the present instance is four. The studs @45 have coperating with them a stud or projection @46 on a disk @47, the latter being rendered fast on the shaft which may be eected in any suitable manner, as by means of threaded bolts @43, extended through slots @300 in the flange @40 of a hub @50, secured on the said shaft, as by the pin @303, (see Figs. 1 and 31,) the said threaded bolts entering suitable threaded sockets @3011 in the disk @47. In this manner the disk @47 is adj ustably and removably secured on the shaft The disk @47, as shown, is provided at its circumference with a cutaway portion @51 of sufficient size or length to afford a passage-way for a corner of the plate @44, and to permit the said plate and the loopercarrying shaft to be partially rotated by the IOO IIO

portion @51 of the disk @47 will be in position to afford a passage for the corner of the disk @44 and permit it to be turned.

In the present instance it will be seen from -an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 that the loopershaft @21 is given a quarter-turn by each complete revolution of the shaft and during substantially the larger part of the revolution of the shaft the looper-carrying shaft @21 is locked against rotation. At each quarterrotation of the looper-shaft @21 a looper-arm @25 is moved downward in the direction indicated by arrow 20, Fig. l2, and carries the string held by the grippers in a downward direction to form one member or half 200 of the loop, the other member or half, 201, of which (see Fig. 2l) is then formed by the feeder-arm @14 carrying the twine or string c to the grippers and bringing the two members or halves of the loop substantially close together preparatory to forming the knot; and when the two halves or members of the loop are brought substantially close together, as described, they are engaged by a locking or holdin g device, which serves to retain the two members of the loop in position to be engaged by the knotter, as will be hereinafter described.

The loop locking or holding device may and preferably will be made as herein shown, it consisting, essentially, (see Figs. 17 and 18,) of a disk @50, provided with a finger or projection @51, adapted to be brought over and close apassage-way @52, formed,as herein shown, by two plates or guide-bars @52 @51, secured, respectively, to the top and side of a post or upright @55, attached to a rack-bar @50, the latter being adapted to move in a suitable guideway @57, fastened to a stationary portion of the machine. rlhe rack-bar @50 may be reciprocated by means of a segmental gear @52, secured to or forming part of a hub @50, mounted loosely on the shaft and provided with a crank-arm @00, joined bya connecting-rod @01 to a lever @02, pivoted, as at @02, to a bracket @01, secured to or forming part of the framework of the machine, the said lever being provided with a stud or projection @05, extended into a cam-groove @00 in one face of a camdisk a", fast on the shaft The disk @50, as herein shown, is pivotally mounted on the plate or bar @52, and has pivotally connected to it one arm a02 of an elbow-lever @00, pivoted to the plate or bar @52, as at @00, and having its other arm, @01, adapted to be brought in to engagement with a stud or post (L72, erected from a stationary portion of the machine, the said post or stud turning the elbow-lever n.00, so as tomove the disk CL50 in the direction of arrow 2l, and bring its nose or projection e051 across the slot @52 and behind the members of the loop, as clearly represented in Fig. 18. The two members of the loop are now in condition to be tied or knotted, which may be effected by means of a knotting device, prefu erably of a construction as will now be described, and which is best shown in Figs. S,

10, and 22 to 25 inclusive. The knotting device herein shown comprises two parts or members, one of which is preferably fixed and is herein shown as a bar Z9, provided at its front end with a pointed extension or nose Z9', the said bar at its rear end, as herein shown, (see Fig. 8,) being made cylindrical in form and extended into a suitable socket in an enlarged portion Z92 of a shaft Z92, by which the knotter may be revolved. The fixed member or bar Z9 has cooperating with it a second or movable member herein shown as an elbowlever Z92, fast on a pivot or rock-shaft Z95, extended through the bar Z9, and having secured to it on the opposite side of the bar Z9 (see Fig. l0) a crank or arm Z90, the elbow-lever Z94 being provided with a pointed extension or nose-piece Z97, which coperates with the pointed extension or nose-piece b of the bar Z9 to form the nippers or holding-jaws of the knotting device.

The movable jaw or nipper Z97 may be normally brought in close contact with the fixed jaw Z9/, as herein shown, by means of a spring Z92, having one end secured to the crank or arm Z9, and having its other end fastened, as herein shown, to a hook Z90, projecting from a bar Z910, fastened, as by screw Z912, to the bar Z9.

The j aw Z9T is adapted to be moved away from the jaw Z9', which may be accomplished, as herein shown, by means of a lever Z912, pivoted to the fixed member Z9, as at Z911, and provided at its front end with a shearing extension or nose-piece Z915, constituting a knife-blade, which coperates with the jaws Z9 Z97 to sever the cord or twine held therein, as will be described. rlhe knife-blade Z915 may form an integral part of the lever Z912, or it may be a separate piece and be attached thereto, as by a screw 610. (See Fig. l0.) The lever Z912 may be turned on its pivot to produce a cutting action of the knife Z915 by a spring Z920, herein shown as alaminated spring secured to a suitable holder Z921, fastened to the lever Z912. The lever Z912 may be provided at its rear end, as shown, with a roller Z922, which coperates with a cam Z924, fastened to a rod Z925, pivotally connected, as at Z920, to a stationary portion of the machine, the cam Z921 being provided with an enlarged portion Z927, for a purpose as will be described.

The cam Z921 has pivotally connected to it, as at Z922, a rod or arm Z920, secured to a strap Z920 of an eccentric Z921, mounted on the shaft The shaft Z92, to which the fixed member Z9 of the knotter is secured, may be supported in suitable uprights 30 3l, secured to or forming part of the framework of the machine, and may be rotated from the shaft a, as herein shown, by means of a sprocket-chain Z922, passed about sprocket-wheels Z921 Z925 on the shafts a and Z92, respectively, and best shown in Fig. 4, but it is evident that the shaft Z92 may be connected to the shaft by gears. The cam Z924 operates upon the roller Z923 to turn the lever Z912 on its pivot, so as to move its knife Z915 away from the stationary jaw Z9 IOO IIO

of the nippers. At the same time the lever 513 engages the crank or arm 56 and moves it in the direction indicated by arrow 22, Fig. 10, against the action of its spring 58, thereby turning the shaft or pivot 55 and its attached elbow-lever Zf1 in such direction as to move the jaw 57 away from the `jaw 5' and into substantially the position shown in Fig. 8, in which condition the jaws are capable of receiving between them the two members of the loop, as will be described.

The portion 527 of the cam 524 permits the lever 513 to be moved by its spring 520, in the direction indicated by arrow 23 in Fig. 10, a sufficient distance to remove the lever 513 from engagement with the crank or arm 5G, thereby permitting the latter to be moved by its retracting-spring 58 in the direction indicated by arrow 23 in Fig. l0, thus turning the shaft or pivot 55 in such direction as to bring the movable jaw 57 toward and into engagement with the xed jaw 5', thereby iirmly clamping the two members of the loop, preparatory to severing` the same from the string by the knife 515, which is brought into action by the spring 520 when the roller 523 is removed from engagement with the cam 524 and its enlarged portion 527, the movement of the lever 518, when freed from the cam ZJ24 and the portion 527, being limited by a stop, shown as an overturned edge 510 on the bar 510.

The jaws 5' 57 are preferably made substantially flat on one side and are rounded on the other side, and the cutting-blade or shear 515 is ,made flat on one side and rounded on the other side.

The flat side of the cutting-blade 515is contiguous to the flat sides of the jaws 5 57, so that when the jaws 5' 57 are closed and the cutting-blade is in its normal or inoperative position (shown in Fig. l0) the rounded sides of the said blade and jaws form a substantially conical beak or horn over which the noose of the loop is drawnlto form the knot.

It will be understood from the above `description of the apparatus that a continuous or substantially long string or twine c is employed, and that the tags c are made prior to being placed in the machine, and are and may be of any suitable form such as now commonly suspended by a loop of non-metallic ibrous material.

The tags c are provided with eyelets or holes through which the string is passed, and the said tags are placed in or on a suitable holder or support, herein shown as a chute, guideway, or receptacle c2, which is herein represented in Figs. 4 and 6 as a substantially long rectangular tube extended through a hollow support, represented as a box c3, sustained in an inclined position by means of arms c4, attached to the rear side of the framework, as by bolts or screws c5.

The tag-containing chute or guideway c2 may be removably secured in the box c3, as by a screw c6. The tags c are arranged within the chute or guideway c2 with their eyelets or holes in line with one another, so that the string or twine c may be passed through the eyelets or holes of all the tags contained in the said chute.

The string or twine c may be taken from a ball, spool, or bobbin, not herein shown, but which may be suitably supported above the top of the chute c2 and preferably substantially in line with the same; but while this arrangement is preferred, as it leaves the string free and does not offer any resistance or drag to the feeder C014, I do not desire to limit my invention to any particular location of the string outside of the machine, nor to any particular form in which the string is assembled, as it may be left in a loose state. When the string c has been fed to the grippers, as above described, that portion of the string between the grippers and the mouth of the chute c2 is inclined and substantially straight, as represented in Figs. 4 and 6.

The tag c nearest the mouth or discharge end of the chute c2 is removed from the said chute and carried down on the substantially straight portion of the string toward the grippers, and I prefer to remove the tag just prior to the action of the looper. The tags c' are removed from the chute cz'by a tagfeeding mechanism, which may and preferably will be of the construction herein shown, it consisting of a suction device composed of a pipe 010, mounted to swing in the arc ofa circle, the said pipe being herein shown (see Figs. Ll and 6) as secured to or forming part of a hollow fitting 012, pivotally mounted in forks 013 of an arm 014, secured to or forming part of the box c3. The tting 012 is connected, as

shown, by pipes C15 c1 to a pipe C17, connected,

as herein shown, to an enlarged pipe 017, communicating with the cylinder 018 of an air or vacuum pump, and in which is reciprocated a piston 019, having its piston-rod e211 eccentrically connected to the hub G21 ofthe sprocketwheel 534 on the shaft a.

The pipe C16 may be made of rubber or other iiexible material to permit of the pivotal movement of the pipe e111, the latter for the best results being provided with a rubber or other flexible tip or nozzle G22 to obtain a superior holding effect on the tag with which it is brought in contact. The pipe 010 may be oscillated toward and from the tag chute or guideway c2, as herein shown, by an eccentric @24, fast on the shaft a and having its strap c25 connected by a rod C26 to a stud or support C27, extended from the pipe G10. The pipe 01"1 is provided, as shown, with a cock or valve c3, by opening which the vacuum in the cylinder 018 and in the pipes C17 c16 010 may be destroyed, if at any time it is found desirable so to do. The tags c in the chute or guideway c2 are preferably acted upon by a weight C31, represented in Fig. 6 as a block having a slot or opening c3111 in its under side, and in which is pivoted a pawl cs2, coperating with a ratchet-bar C33, supported upon the bottom of the chute or guideway and ex- IOO tended substantially the length Of the Same, the said pawl being kept in engagement with the said ratchet-bar, as herein shown, by a spring 034, carried by the said block or weight. The weight 021 forces the tags down toward the discharge end or mouth of the chute c2 with sufficient pressure to insure the tags being in proper position to be acted upon by the tip or nozzle 022. The chute or guideway c2 is preferably provided with side ledges, acting as rests or stops, against which bear the ends of the tag nearest the dischargemouth of the said chute, the said ledges or stops being formed, as herein shown,by pieces or bars cA10 041, secured to the chute c2, as by screws 042. (See Figs. 6 and 29.)

The weight or block 021, by reason of the pawl C22 being in engagement with the ratchetbar 033, keeps the tags between the said weight and the rests or stops ci0 C41 substantially solid or compact, and the said tags are prevented from yielding to the impact of the nozzle 022 on the pipe G10 when the said nozzie is brought in contact with the endmost tag in position to be removed from the chute. By means of the pawl engaging the ratchetbar 022 the block 031 maybe made substantially light but yet of sufficient weight to gently force the tags down the chute against the rests 040 C41, the said tags being held by the pawl 022, as described, so as to offer a sufiicient resistance to the Iiexible nozzle C22 to cause the latter to be pressed against the endmost tag with sufficient force to fix the rubber nozzle against the tag air-tight, so that when the pipe 010 is moved backward away from the chute c2 the tag iixcd by the vacuum to the nozzle 022 will be carried by the said pipe out of the chute and down on the substantially straight portion of the string toward the grippers. The lightness of the weight C21 prevents the endmost tag being jammed or forced against the side bars or stops C40 C41 with such pressure as would not permit the vacuum to pull the tag out of the chute.

The tag carried by the nozzle 022 may be freed therefrom by destroying the vacuum in the cylinder cl3, which may be effected by providing the said cylinder with an air-inlet, not herein shown, but which is uncovered by the piston 019 when the latter reaches approximately the limit of its upward stroke. After the tag is freed from the nozzle 022, a loop is formed and knotted or tied by the mechanisms above referred to, and the operation of which will be more fully and conuectedly described hereinafter. The completed loop with its attached tag may then be carried forward by a delivering device, which carries it to the assembling or bunching portion of the apparatus, as will be described, the said device in the present instance being shown as a segmental arm or plate d, provided with a slit d and secured to the arm d2 (see Figs. 1 and 19) of a lever d3, pivotally secured, as at d150, to the framework of the machine to swing in a substantially horizontal path, the said lever, as herein shown, being oscillated by means of a cam-groove d'1 in a disk d5, mounted on a shaft d, extended substantially at right angles to the shaft a and operatively connected to the main sha-ft A2 by means of a bevel-pinion Z7 on the shaft d, meshing with a bevel-pinion d8 on the shaft A2.

The cam-groove d4 of the disk d5 has extended into it a stud or roller d2 on one end of a lever d10, pivoted, as at d12,(see Fig. 6,) to a stationary portion of the machine, and having its upper end, as herein shown, provided with a square or other than round collar d, fitted loosely on the end of the said lever and extended into a forked arm dw, pivotally secured, as at dw, to the lever d3. By an inspection of Figs. 6 and 19 it will be seen that as the lever (Zw is oscillated in a substantially vertical plane the lever d3 will be oscillated in a substantially horizontal plane and will act to carry the completed loop with its suspended tag from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 19, in which latter position the completed loop will be in position to be taken out of the slot d of the delivering device d.

The shaft CL adjacent to the cam-hub a8 has fast on it a pulley d20, connected by a band or belt (121 to a pulley CX22, secured to or forming part of a sleeve (Z22, (see Fig. 1,) to which is fastened a circular brush d2, (see Fig. 6,) the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The sleeve cl2* is loosely mounted on a stud or rod 6525 near the outer end of an arm (X26 of a hub CZ27, (see dotted lines, Fig. 6,) the said hub being loose on the shaft d and provided with a crank or arm (228, joined by a link d29 to a lever c330, pivoted, as at df, to a stationary part of the machine and provided with a pin or projection d22, extended into a cam-groove (.132 in one face of the pulley d20. The cam-groove cZ22is of suitable shape to turn the hub CZ27 on the shaft d, through the lever d20, link CX29, and crank al, so as to raise the outer end of the arm CZ26 and bring the rotary brush C224 underneath the grippers, whereby the surplus portions of the loop retained by the grippers after the loop has been severed from the string may be removed from the said grippers. In order that the loop may be brought nearer the knotter when one member of the loop is firmly grasped between the jaws a6 a5, the grooves or tracks 4L 5 are preferably brought nearer the grooves or tracks 2 3 for a portion of their length, as from the point X to the point X in Fig. 26. This construction insures the engagement of the beak of the knotter with the members 200 201 of the loop, as shown in Fig. 21.

I have thus far described an apparatus in which a loop of string or twine is formed from a continuous string and tied with a tag suspended therefrom, and I will now proceed to the description of an apparatus in which the tied or knotted loops and their attached tags may be assembled in predetermined num- IOO IIO

bers or bunches,and which apparatus I prefer to hereinafter refer to as the bunching apparatus,which may and preferably will be constructed substantially as follows: An arm 6, secured to the standard or upright A of the machine, as by bolts or screws 6', (see Fig. 4,) is cored to receive an upright rod or spindle 62, the portion of the spindle abovethc arm 6 being shown as of larger diameter and resting upon the upper surface of the said arm. The spindle 62 is rendered fast to the arm 6, as herein shown, by a nut 65. On the spindle or rod 62 is loosely mounted a sleeve 64, which is fastened in any suitable manner at its lower end to the hub of a worm-gear 65, driven by a worm 6G on the shaft d6. The worm 66 may and preferably will be what is known as a triple thread, so as to produce the desired rate of movement of the wormgear 65, for a purpose as will bedescribed.

The sleeve 64 has fitted upon it at its upper end a cap 67, which is secured to said sleeve to revolve therewith and which cap practically forms the hub of a gear 65, beveled on its under side for a purpose as will be described, the said gear being herein represented as fastened to the cap or hub 67 bythe screws 62. (See Fig. 6.) The worm-gear 65 in the present instance is provided with one hundred teeth and the beveled gear 68 is also provided with one hundred teeth. The beveled gear 68 is provided in its upper surface with an annular groove 612, into which is loosely fitted an internally-geared ring 612, with which meshes a pinion 613, (see Figs. l and 5,) loose on a stud @14, carried by an arm 615 on a hub 615, fast on the spindle 62, the said hub being secured to the spindle, as herein shown, (see Figs. l and 5,) by the setscrew 615. The loose pinion 613 meshes with a pinion 617, attached to the upper side of the bevel-gear 68, it being shown in Fig. 6 as secured to the said gear by screws 612. The worm 66 drives the worm-gear 65, which in turn rotates the sleeve 64 and the bevel-gear 65, connected therewith, and the pinion 615, fast on the upper surface of the bevel-gear 65, drives the loose pinion 613, which in turn drives the internally-geared ring 612. The sleeve 64 has loosely mounted upon it a hub 620, provided with arms 621, herein shown as four in number and forming one form of buncher-supporting frame, the said frame being mounted preferably upon an antifriction-bearing, shown as balls 622, (see Fig. 6,) supported in an annular groove on the upper surface of a second sleeve or spool 625, (shown best in Fig. 4,) and which for convenience in construction is herein shown as reduced in diameter or cut away at two diametrically opposite points or sides, and which carries a substantially vertical pawl 624 on a rod 6244 and coperatin g with a ratchet collar or ring 625, (shown best in Fig. 7,) the said ring or collar being fastened to the under side of the revolving buncher-carrying frame 620, as by pins or screws 625.V (See Fig. 6.) The ratchetring 625 and paw1624 constitute one form of 4clutch mechanism, for a purpose as will be described.

In the present instance the ratchet-ring 625 is provided on its under side or edge with four teeth or notches 627, (see Fig. 7,) corresponding to the number of arms 621 on the buncher-supporting frame and into one of which the pawl 624 is normally extended, as herein shown, by a spiral spring 628, encircling the lower part of the pawl-carrying bar or rod 6245, one end of the said spring bearing against the upper portion or head of the said pawlcarrying bar or rnd and its other end resting upon lthe lower iiange or head of the sleeve or spool 622. The lower end of the paw-Learrying bar 6244 is extended loosely into a hole or opening in the lower flange or head of the spool or sleeve 622 to permit the said rod to rise and fall, as will be described.

Each arm 621 of the hub 62o carries a movable buncher, which may and preferably will be made as herein shown, it consisting of a body portion 650, (see Fig. 19,) made hollow at its center and provided with a series of curved slots or channels 651, forming arms 632, to the bottom of each of which is secured or forms part thereof a horizontally-extended curved finger 655, forming, practically, an extension of the said arm, the said fingers forming curved slots or guideways 634, which coincide with or form part of the slots 631 and which meet at the center of the body 650 and merge into or communicate with a central opening 6S00 for a purpose as will be described. Each buncher may be removably secured to its carrying-arm 621, as herein shown, by a collar or clamping-arms attached to a lug or projecting piece 640, (see Fig. 4,) secured to an upright or standard 641, fastened to the arm 621, as by screw 642.

Each buncher referred to may be provided, as shown, with a bevel-pinion 643 in mesh with a bevel gear or pinion 644, preferably loose on a shaft 645, having bearings in the upright or standard 641 and provided with a bevel-pinion 645, which meshes with and is driven by the bevel-gear 62. The standards or uprights 641 support a ring 641, (see Figs. 4, 5, and 6,) which may be fastened to the standards or uprights by depending lugs or ears 6450, adapted to be slipped down over the upper end of the said uprights so as to embrace the same, and, if desired, the said lugs or ears and uprights may be screwed or pinned together.

The ring 647 is provided on its upper surface, as shown, with four studs or projections 645 642 650 651, (see Fig. 5,) corresponding to the number of bunchers in the machine and which IIO IZO

are engaged successively by a latch or locking with a slot or opening on its under side, into which successively project the lugs on the ring @47 and by which the said ring, the uprights 641, the arms @21, and hub @20 are rendered temporarily stationary while a buncher is being filled, as will be described.

The latch or locking-lever @52 may be released from that stud on the ring @47 with which it is engaged while one buncher is being iilled with tags by a disen gagin g or releasing device, which may be made as herein shown, (see Fig. 5,) it consisting of a lever 660, loosely suspended near its center to the under side of an arm eG1 on the hub cl3,

The lever e6@ is made of such length and shape that one arm @32 may be brought under a finger @G3 on the latch or locking-lever @52 by a stud or projection @G4 on the upper face of the internally-geared ring @12 striking against the other arm or end @.65 of the releasing-lever @60.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that as the internally-geared ring @12 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon the stud @64 will be brought against the arm @G5 on the lever e30 and will move the arm @G2 of the said lever under the finger @G3 of the lockinglever G52, the said nger, in the present instance, being cam-shaped or upwardly inclined on its under side, so that as the arm @G2 of the releasing-lever @60 is moved under it the said finger will be raised and the lever @52 will be disengaged from the said stud on the ring 647, with which it is in engagement, and which stud in Fig. 5 is shown as 648. As soon as the locking-lever @52 is disengaged from the stud 648 the ring @47, the standards e, connected therewith, the arms @21, and hub @20 of the buncher supporting frame are disconnected from the stationary framework of the machine, but held stationary for a substantially short time by the arm @G2 of the lever @60, until the pin or stud e34 passes by the arm @65 of the lever @33, after which the bunchersupporting frame is free to be moved or rotated, which is accomplished in the present instance by a mechanism, as will now be described, which imparts substantially a quarterrevolution to the parts enumerated or until the next stud on the ring @47, which may be supposed to be the stud @31, is engaged with the locking-lever 652.

The mechanism by which the buncher-supporting frame and the parts sustained by it are rotated substantially a quarter-turn is shown in the present instance as a weight @70, (see Figs. 4 and 14,) sustained by a cord @71, passed over a pulley @72 and secured to a segmental-shaped arm @73, fastened, as by screw @74, to the lower portion or head of the spool or sleeve @23. The spool or sleeve e23 and its attached segmental arm @73 are given, preferably, less than a quarter turn or revolution in the direction indicated by arrow GO, Fig. 14, to lift the weight @70, by means of a stud or projection 675 on the upper surface of the worm-gear @3, the said stud or projection being adapted to engage the preferably-curved end e7 of one arm 677 of an elbow-lever @73,

pivoted, as at @79, to a post or upright e30, secured to or forming part of a plate or bar 631, herein shown as clamped to the supportingarm by the nut @3, the elbow-lever @73 having its other arm cs2 connected by a link @83 to the under side of the sleeve @23.

From an inspection of Fig. 14 it will be seen that as the worm-gear @5 is revolved by the worm e3 in the direction indicated by arrow 61 the stud @75 will engage the curved or inclined end 673 of the arm @77 and will turn the elbow-lever @73, so as to move the sleeve @23 and its attached segmental arm e73 in the direction indicated by arrow 60, until the stud @75, in the travel of the worm-gear @3, pushes the arm @71 out of its path of movement, and at such time the sleeve @23 will be locked against backward or return movement by the pawl @24 engaging a new tooth in the ratchetring c25, the said parts being thus locked until the latch @52, Fig. 5, is released from its cooperating stud on the ring @47, whereupon the weight will turn the segmental arm 673 and the sleeve @23 and the parts locked to it by the pawl @24 backward or in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 60 until the backward movem en t of the said segmental arm is arrested by a finger or projection @90 on the segmental arm @73 engaging a stud or upright @31, herein represented as forming part of a bracket @33, secured to the arm as by bolts or screws 632, (see Fig. 4,) the said bracket-being provided with arms @94, in which the pulley @72 is mounted.

When the worin-gear e3 is rotated by its worm e6 in the direction indicated by arrow 61, Fig. 14, the sleeve @4 and its attached bevel-gear @8 are given a complete revolution to each revolution of the worm-gear @5, the said bevel-gear rotating each buncher through the bevel-pinion @43, shaft c45, bevel gear or pinion @44, and bevel-pinion @43, secured to the buncher, and the said worm-gear e3, by reason of the triple teeth on the worm e3, makes three complete revolutions to every complete revolution of the internally-geared ring @32, and consequently the sleeve 623 and its attached weight @70 are locked to the buncher-carryin g frame until the latter is released from its retaining-latch @32. When the arm @U2 of the releasing-lever @60 disengages the locking-lever 672 from its cooperating stud on the ring @47, the segmental arm 673 and the sleeve @.23 are rotated in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 60, Fig. 14, and the buncher-supporting frame, the standards @43, and the ring @47, which are locked to the said sleeve by means of the pawl e2'L and ratchet-ring @23, are moved bodily with the sleeve @23.

The sleeve 623 and its attached arm @73 are preferably given less than a quarter-revolution, so that on the return movement of the said sleeve in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow G0, Fig. 14, the projection @90 will engage the upright or stop @31 before the latch @52 is engaged by a new stud or up- IOO IIS

right, as @51, on the ring 647. This construction relieves the buncher-supporting frame, its sustained parts, and the latch @52 from strain or shock, such as would be occasioned by the sudden stopping of the weight by the buncher-supporting frame. When the sleeve @23 is stopped in its return movement, as described, the momentum carries lthe bunchersupporting frame and its sustained parts farther to complete a full quarter-turn, or until the stud @51 engages the latch @52.

As the buncher-supporting frame is turned in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 60, which would be in the direction indicated by arrow 70, Fig. l, a new buncher is presented or brought in line with the tagdelivering device of the tag-tying portion of the machine.

In the machine herein shown the internallygeared rin g cl2 makes one com plete revolution for every one hundred revolutions of the shaft a, but in order to obtain the desired speed of rotation of the tag receivers or bunchers the latter are geared so that the beveled gear e8 makes three revolutions while the internallygeared ring el makes one, and the buncher makes ten revolutions for every revolution of the beveled gear es, so that thirty revolutions of the buncher are obtained for one revolution of the said internally-geared ring. This construction of gearing is especially advantageous on account of the increased speed of rotation of the bunchers, and in practice every succeeding tag or loop is engaged by every third radial arm, there being ten to each buncher in the present instance, which insures the positive entrance of the loop into Aits proper channel or slot in the buncher and the positive with drawal of the knotted looped tag from the tag-delivering device.

The bevel-gear @44, with which meshes the pinion @43 on a buncher, is preferably loose on its shaft c45 and is rendered fast thereon to rotate the bevel-pinion @43 while the bunchersupporting frame @21 is stationary by means of a pawl e100, (see Figs. 1 and 34,) pivoted, as at e200, to the rear side of the gear @44 and provided with an arm e101, (see Figs. 4 and 33,) which is extended through a slot in the said gear and engages a tooth of a ratchet-wheel e102, fast on the shaft c45 and located in front of the gear @44. The arm e101 may be held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel e102, as herein shown, by means of a flat spring e104, secured to the pawl e100 and engaging a stud or pin e105 on the rear face of the gear e, as clearly shown in Figs. l and .34. This construction permits the shaft c45 and its ratchetwheel el@2 to be rotated without producing rotation of the loose gear emand the bevel-gear cL3 of the buncher, so that when the bunchersupporting frame is moved to change the position of the bunchers the tag-carrying bunchers are rendered practically stationary and do not revolve, and as a result the tags and their loops are not snarled or mussed up, but are permitted to hang separately and evenly,

for by an inspection of Fig. 32 it will be seen that when the shaft c45 and its ratchet-wheel e102 are moved in the direction of arrow 200 the pawl-arm e101 and the pawl e100 transmit motion from the -ratchet *wheel e102 to the gear @44, and thereby produce rotation of the buncher-gear @43 and its buncher. Now when the buncher-carrying frame is moved bodily, as above described, to change the position of the bunchers with relation to the tagdeliver ing device the gear e46 will be carried around the bevel-gear e8 for a quarter of its circumference, and in this latter bodily movement of the gear e46 the latter will be rotated in a reverse direction, that is, in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 200, Fig. 32, and the ratchet-wheel e102 will, in this rotation of the gear e46 and shaft c45, click by the pawl-arm e101 and will not produce rotation of the gear @44, but will leave the gears c4'L @43 and the buncher connected to the gear @.43 practically stationary, while the buncher-carrying frame is making a quarter-revolution or until the said frame is arrested in its move ment by the engagement of the latch 652 with the stud 651 on the ring @47. l/Vhen the buncher-frame is stopped, as described, the gear e46 will be again rotated in the direction of arrow 200 by the gear e8 and the buncher again set in rotation.`

The bevel-gear es, during the bodily movement of the buncher-earrying frame, con tinues in its rotation and has a tendency to drive the bevel-pinionc and the shaft c45 in the direction indicated by arrow 200, Fig. 32, but the bodily movement of thc buncher-carryin g frame above referred to has a tendency to drive or rotate the bevel-pinion c in the direction opposite to the arrow 200, and the bodily movement of the buncher-carrying frame being much faster than the movement of the bevel-gear hs the said bodily movement predominates, and as a result the bevel-gear e46, its shaft c45, and the ratchet e102 move in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 200, Fig. 32, but as soon as the bodily movement of the buncher-carrying frame is arrested by the engagement of one of the studs, yas @51, with the latch the rotation of the shaft c45 and ratchet e102 in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 200 ceases, and the bevel-gear cnl is immediately again rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 200 to produce rotation of the buncher.

In order that the operator attending the machine may be given a warning that the buncher-supporting frame is about or on the point of being changed automatically, as above described, an audible signal may be provided, which is herein shown as a bell f, (see Figs. 4 and 6,) represented as mounted on the upper end of the spindle e2, which latter is shown in said figures as secured to an arm or bracket f', attached to a stationary portion of the machine and herein shown as the bottom or under side of the box c3. The bell f is provided with a tapper or ham- IOO IIO

mer f2, having its arm f3 secured to or forming part of an elbow-lever pivoted to the under side of the arm e and having its other arm, f, extended. into the path of movement of the pin or stud @G4 on the internally-geared ring @12, the arm f4, as represented in Fig. 5, being shown as provided with an inclined or cam-shaped finger f5, under which passes the stud or pin @64 as the ring cl2 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon in Fig. 5. As the stud or pin e64t passes under and in engagement with the cam-shaped iinger f5 it rocks the elbow-lever and moves the striker-army3 away from the bell or gong f, so that as the stud or pin e passes from under and out of engagement with the iinger f5 the latter will descend into its normal position and bring the tapper into contact with the bell f. The bell-operating arm or lever f4 is located with such relation to the arm @G5 of the releasing-lever e6@ that the bell will be operated a little before the arm @65 is engaged by the pin @64 to bring the arm @G2 of the said lever into engagement with the latch or locking-lever 652 to disengage the latter from a stud on the ring 647.

In order that my invention may be clearly comprehended, I will now describe the operation of the complete apparatus herein shown, which includes a loop-forming and tag-tying apparatus and also a cooperating bunching apparatus.

Preparatory to operating the apparatus herein shown, the tags c are placed in the chute or receptacle c2 with their eyelets or openings in line with each other, and when the said chute has been filled with the requisite or desired number of tags the Weight C31 is placed in the chute against the uppermost tag, and the string or twine c is then threaded through a longitudinal hole or opening in the block or weight 031 and through the eyelets of the tags, which may be accomplished by means of a substantially long needle or other suitable device, and a sufficient portion or length of the string is then carried out from the chute and allowed to fall down over the :finger als of the feeder-arm am, after which the operator starts the main shaft in rotation, which drives the cam-shaft a. As the shaft a is rotated the thread-carrying arm rtl4 is moved forward and carries the loose end of the string c to the grippers, and for purpose of illustration we will suppose that the loose end of the string has been brought forward between the jaw a4 and the intermediate jaw a, which latter is operated by means of the cam-hub as to grip the end of the string between it and the jaw CL4. The string now occupies substantially the position shown in Figs. -i and G, and is in condition to receive a tag from the chute c2.

The tag is withdrawn from its chute, as above described, by the vacuum or suction created bythe piston 019 and is then released from the nozzle C22 of the pipe cw by the destruction of the vacuum, as described, so that the tag hangs freely suspended on the string, between the chute and the jaws, as represented in Fig. 20. The looper is then brought into operation, and a finger (L26 on an arm @25 of the same engages the string and carries it and the tag downward while the loopershaft is making a quarter-turn, the shoe a3* of the arm at such time remaining on the periphery of the cam @35 and maintaining the said arm rigid during the time the loop is formed and just previous to the tying of the knot, as will be described.

The looper-arm is kept in engagement with the cam C155 while one face oredge of the otherthan-round plate a is in contact with the face of the disk a" on the shaft a. The feedarm al" is then again brought into operation and is moved forward, so as to bring that portion of the string between the looper-arm and the mouth of the chute into position to be engaged by the grippers, as will be described, the said string-carrying arm bringing the portion of the string referred to into the space between the intermediate jaw CLG and the jaw a5, as clearly represented in Fig. 21, thereby forming a loop comprising the two members 200 201, the end of the member 200 being firmly grasped between the jaws d4 a6, while the member 201 is loosely held by the threadcarrier com, which latter remains in this position until the intermediate jaw a6 is moved by its cam a8 to firmly grip the string between it and the jaw a5, as will be described.

When the members 200 201 of the loop are in the position substantially shown in Fig. 21, the said members are in condition to be tied or knotted together and severed from the string c, but in order to insure correct working of the knotter the string holder or locking device is brought into operation as follows: The cam am operates the rack-bar L56 (see Fig. 17) and moves it toward the rear of the machine, (viewing Fig. 1,) or in the direction indicated by arrow 400, Fig. 17, to cause the guide-bars @L53 w54 to embrace the members 200 201 of the loop, and at the same time to carry the segmental disk a5 beyond the said members, so that on the further movement of the rack-bara56 toward the rear of the machine the said disk is turned in the direction of arrow 21, Fig. 17, so as to bring its finger or projection am behind the members 200 201 of the loop, thereby locking the said members of the loop and preventing them slipping off the beak of the knotter when the latter is operated,as will now be described.

"When the two members of the loop are locked, as just described and as shown in Fig. 21, the knotter occupies the position indicated in Fig. 21 and shown in Fig. 10, thejaws ZJ 57 of the knotter and the knife Z215 being at such time closed, the roller Z323 on the lever Z913 being out of Contact with the cam bgd.

As the knotter-shaft b2 is rotated, which may be effected, as above described, by means of the sprocket-wheels 1935 113-1 and sprocketchain 532, the beak of the knotter, formed by IOO IIO

IZO

the two jaws 19 197 and the knife 1915, extends beyond the two members of the loop, as represented in Fig. 21, and the said beak is turned over and under the members of the loop in the direction indicated by arrow 401, Fig. 2l, and when the knotter-shaft has made a halfrevolution from the position indicated in Figs. 10 and 21 the members of the loop are wound about the beak of the knotter to form a noose, as represented in Fig. 22, the roller 1923 at such time having been brought intov contact with the lower portion of the cam 1924, therebyT compressing the lever 191s sufficiently to open the knife 1915, and at the same time to act on the crank 196 and move the jaw 197 away from the stationary j aw 19. On the continued rotation of the knotter-shaft 192 the roller 1923 travels up the cam 1921 in the direction indicated by arrow 50, Fig. 9, and when the knotter is brought into substantially the position shown in Fig. 23, with the jaws 19 197 and the knife 1915 pointing upward, the portion of the members 200 201 of the loop between the jaws of the knotter and the gripping jaws, which portion is marked 55 in said figure, is in position to have the jaw 19 and the jaw 197 and knife 1915 pass by the said portion on the continued rotation ofthe knotter-shaft 192. When the open jaws of the knotter have passed by the portion 55 of the loop, the roller 1923 comes in contact with the enlarged portion 1927 of the cam 1921, and permits the lever 1913 to be moved outward by its spring 1920 away from the crank 196,thereby permitting the latter to be retracted by its spring 198, so as to close the jaw 197, which on its movement toward the fixed jaw 19 firmly grips the portion 55 of the loop between it and the fixed jaw 19 of the knotter, and when the loop is thus firmly gripped the roller 1923 will have passed away from the portion 1927 of the cam 1921 and will permit the lever 1913 to be restored to its original position, thereby closing the knife 1915,`which acts to shear or cut the portion of the loop held by the jaws 19 197 of the knotter from the por tion 55, held by the gripping-jaws, leaving the loop still firmly held between the jaws 19 197 of the knotter, as clearly shown in Fig. 24E.

The machine is now in condition to tie the knot in the loop, which is effected duringa second rotation of the knotter-shaft 192, carrying the knotter downward, as previously den scribed, and when the knotter with the loop held between its closed jaws has been turned downward the noose of the loop is drawn off from the beak of the knotter by the looperarm and the knot is formed, as represented in Fig. 25.

The loose ends of the loop are at such time firmly held between the jaws 19 197 of the knotter, and are so held until the said jaws are again opened by the roller 1923 coming in contact with the lower end or tailpiece 57 of the cam 1921, which cam, during the second revolution of the knotter-shaft 192 to effect the tying of the knot, as above described, is removed out of the path of movement of the roller 1922 by its eccentric 1921, which latter rocks the arm 192.5 and its attached cam 1921 in a backward direction, thereby lifting the tailpiece 57 of the said cam into the path of movement of the roller 1922, so that the lever 1913 is depressed sufficiently to open the jaw 197 and knife 1915 and release the end of the knotted loop.

The noose of Ithe loop is drawn off from the beak of the knotter to form the knotby the looper-arm in engagement with the loop, the said arm acting to draw upon the loop at the second movement of t-he looper effected by the stud C146 `on the disk C147 engaging a second stud on the plate w11. At about the time the noose is drawn off from Vthe beak of the knotter the shoe C121 of the looper-arm passes off from the cam C025, thus transforming the looper-arm from a rigid'to a yieldingarm.

Vhile the knot is being formed in the loop, as above described, the rack-bar L56 is reciprocated in a backward direction, thereby withdrawing the arm `C171 of the lever 169 from engagement with the stud @72 and permitting the said lever to be acted upon by its spring C1710, which turns the segmental disk ao backward or in a direction opposite to the arrow 21, so as to remove the lockingfinger 0151 from engagement with the loop, and while the loop is being knotted, as above described, the loop carrier or deliverer c1 is moved toward the front of the machine by the cam d5, so as to bring the point or nger 61X (see Fig. 19) in front of the loop, and when the knot has been tied and just previous to the loop being released from the jaws of the knotter by the tailpiece 57 of the cam C124 the said loop-carrier d is moved backward to engage its iinger with the knotted loop below the knot, the said loop at such time being held under tension by the looper-arm, which serves to force the loop into the slot c1 of the carrier c1. The carrier dis moved toward the rear of the machine by its operating-cam C15 a sufficient distance to bring the loop suspended `from it into position to be engaged by one of the fingers @23 on the buncher in position to be filled, and which in its rotation withdraws the completed loop and its attached tag out of the slot c1 of the carrier c1, and also assists in drawing the loop from off the looper-arm, the latter being turned on its pivot 6128 against the action of the spring C129 by the rotation of the looper-shaft and also by the rotation of the buncher until the looper-arm has been elevated sufficiently to permit the loop to slide off.

The looper-arm, when released from the loop, is returned to its normal position by its spring e129, and to avoid wear upon the parts of the looper the looper-arm is cushioned on its return movement by the spring 0142, as herein shown.

' The carrier c1 may be provided, as shown in Fig. 19, with a spring c1100, which acts to keep` the knotted loop in the slot c1 and prevent its jumping out of the slot d when the loop is IOO ITO 

